Pom Pom Tree

All the February blocks are completed now - the Blueberry Basket, the Tulip, and now the Pom Pom Tree

.

This block makes me smile!  It reminds me of the old English Court jesters - the ones that use to run about with bells on their hats and pom poms on their shoes.  Hope it has that smiley effect on others as well.

The block is now ready to download on the Legend and Lace website.  The cost is $4.50.

So, now I can put my feet up and catch up with a bit of other sewing.  I want to make another machined quilt out of my stash.  After the Rolling Stones turned out so well, I would like another big block quilt.  I had in mind a Virginia Reel - also know as Snail Trail and Nautilus.  You can see the Rolling Stone quilt top here

I was so excited about the rain the other day.  We have not had rain since September, and it is so brown and crunchy all around us.  The rain did not stop for 2 days, and we ended up with the wettest day in 45 years!  how is that?  We did not get any flooding where I live, but there are lots of people effected with flood.  Best part is, it put out the bush fire that has been going in the Flinders Ranges for a month.

I woke this morning.....

and there was this strange sound on my roof....pit, pat, splat!  Now what was that? I am sure I have heard it before some place........ah, yes, RAIN!  I feel like I want to strip off and run around in the rain.  It's ok, I promise no photos :-)

Now life can get back to normal.  I have been working on a few applique projects, and I got the next part ready for the Tiptoe Through the Tulips quilt.

We are now up to the first border.  You get to make these 4 pieced border strips, by either hand or machine, then add the appliqued stars in the corners.  Once again, I stuck pretty close to the original quilt colourings, and found this reproduction brown printed plaid, with a pink leaf pattern on top.  The original quilt maker used a couple of different brown prints.

The pattern is now available to download on the Legend and Lace website.  The cost is $4.50 for each part.

I started to download the Benjamin Biggs block of the month, and went looking for a stash of Smithsonian fabrics I had hidden away, thinking I could use some.  I found the fabrics, but I also found for Maltaville Album blocks from 2012.  Many completed, and quite a few partly complete.  I saved the BB blocks to my computer, and went back to the Maltaville blocks.  They are very interesting blocks, and I get to play with lots of different fabrics as well.

These are some of the finished blocks I found, and I would guess there are another 4-6 blocks elsewhere. 

There are also these 5 partly completed blocks.  I used some of these as demos for "back-basting" applique as they have some really good shapes to show the technique.  Not only can you use it to make the larger shapes like the leaves, but I use the same method to do the skinny little stems.  So many interesting shapes in this quilt.

Perhaps this will be my priority for a while.  I must make a list!

I think the heat has got me!

I made a mistake!  Blame it in the weather, not my frazzled brain.

In the Blueberry Block I put up the other day, in the Rotary Cutting part there is an error.  Sorry!  At least it is cutting larger rather than smaller.........some consolation.

Template B - the rectangles on the sides, the size should be 5 5/16 x 2 1/8  NOT 3/18.  If you made the block already, you probably worked it out, and cut the extra off.  Also, in template D it is 2 7/16 NOT 2 7/17, but you probably worked that out as well.

I have changed the file, so all new blocks downloaded will show the correction measurements.  You can find it here

A Blueberry Basket for you

I dug deep into the scrap bag and found this colour combo for the Blueberry basket.  Some of these fabrics would be about 15 years old.  When you start hoarding bits of fabrics, you JUST KNOW that you will need them one day.  One of my quilting friends confessed just recently to having thrown out all her scraps.  I feel tempted at times, as I have 3 bags and 2 boxes, but I do a lot of applique, and I have found some treasures in those bags and boxes.

Hope you like this little basket.  I will turn it the other way so you get another view of it.

Looks a little crooked in the corner, but it is just the angle of the photo.  I squared the block up when it was finished.  I am hand stitching all my blocks, and I find that easy with the templates.  The girls doing them on the machine might find the sizing a bit hard again this month as there are a couple with 1/16ths and 7/16ths.  I usually take these up to the next measurement, and trim back if I need to.

We have just had our second heat wave of the summer.  This time the temperature got up to 46C - that is 115F, and it did not even cool down at night much.  Once the heat was over, we had the most incredible gale that lasted all night and half of the day.  There is lots of damage with trees and houses.  We got off fairly lightly with 2 broken trees......and lots of dirt!  Everything I touch has a new coating of dust on it.  Have not felt much like sewing.

Enjoy stitching this little basket.  I would love to see some photos if you can be bothered sending them to me.  You can get your pattern from the Legend and Lace website HERE

Who says reproduction fabrics are dull and boring?  Lots of people make that comment when I say that I mostly make quilts using "repros".  I also love Kaffe fabrics, and lots of bright modern fabrics as well. Mostly I love the traditional "olde worlde" prints, and it is surprising how bright you can go.

Look how bright this one is!  I am calling it "Summertime" for very good reason, it looks bright and floraly, and all made with reproduction fabrics.  I don't use as many browns now as I use to, but they are specially beautiful with teal blue, or red, or pink.  I tried not to have "over the top" brightness in this quilt, and it needed a few duller mixes as well. 

So this is the Rolling Stone quilt top, with the extra 5 blocks made.  They are the ones along the left hand side.  It is a pretty big quilt now 75" square. It was too big to get a photo on the floor, so took it outside onto the clothes line, in the blistering heat!  My friend Irene calls my clothes line "the quilt gallery"!

I loved playing with the colour arrangements so much I could probably keep sewing, but I do think this is big enough now.  I am thinking of doing the "big stitch" quilting with Perle cotton on this one.  So far I have done 2 quilts this way, and it happens very fast compared to the "little stitch" quilting that I am so use to.

The final digital block for this month - the Pom Pom Tree - is now ready.  Block 3 is on the Legend and Lace website.  This is another good example of bright reproduction fabrics.  Love this bright blue!

Tulips - part 3

Despite the hot weather, I have managed to get a few of my jobs done.  Today is day 3 of a predicted 5 days of temperatures over 40C.  Today is predicted to be 45 - that is 113F.  Once it gets this hot you just have to stay inside and try and keep cool.

Last weekend I completed part 3 of the Tiptoe Through the Tulips pattern.  These are the "splodge" shapes that I have called Folk Art Circles.  One goes in each of the corners of the centre square.  I did mine in a printed double pink plaid and a directional stripe with brown, red, gold and blue.

 I love this fabric, and would love to get a bit more of it if anyone knows where I could find it

When I was making the pattern for this quilt, I had images of the original quilt maker sitting at her kitchen table using jam jars, and cotton reels to draw the shapes.  They used what they had sitting around.  I expect many of use do that still today.  I use to be quite good at art when I was at school, but lost interest as I got older.  When I was drawing the shapes for the the pattern, I realised that I still had some of the skills tucked away.  Surprising.

The patterns are now available on the Legend and Lace website

.Yesterday, before it got too hot, like when it was on 39C, I cut out 5 more blocks for the Rolling Stones.  I figured I could string piece them through the sewing machine, and get them mostly done in one day.  I have really enjoyed matching up (or not matching!) the fabrics for these blocks.  I kind of started with the centre piece, and found fabrics that went with that to make a frame.  This will be my job this morning.

The heat is on!

The weather forecast for this coming week is 40C+ during the day.  For those of you who live where the weather is measured in F, well this is hot, when you think that 38C is 100F......so all week we will be looking for indoor activities.  For me, it will not be quilting.  Yuk!  maybe a little hand piecing, with the air-con going.

 So far, I have 4 of the Rose Star blocks completed.  It is a little bit of a challenge finding 5 colours that go together, so i have decided to not choose colours that go together, but ones that clash instead,  I think I am getting a more interesting block.  For example, the block at the top of this picture has red, blue stripe, soft lilac, purple and cheddar.  I would like to keep up the stripes in each block, and some red or pink, but that would be the only matching part.

The Rolling Stone blocks are all done - well I thought they were.  I have made 20 blocks and put them all together.  Went of to a sewing/social/lunch day on Saturday and took it for my show and tell.  The suggestion was that I make the quilt square.  if I make it square then I don't have to add a border, which might not enhance the quilt.  Three of the girls there were prize winning quilters and one also a well respected machine quilter.  I am inclined to embrace their comments.  Also, they gave me some ideas on the quilting design to use.  So, it looks like I have to make another 5 blocks. 

It is school holidays still, and my granddaughter came over yesterday to stay for a few days.  She says she will stay a week, but after a couple of days she starts asking to go home.  We just take it as we can. 

Breakfast time now.  Will find those Cornflakes!

We are half way there

The latest of the little basket blocks is now ready for you.  This is a Sugar Bowl.  A cute little block and a 4 patch this time, so I hope it is easy for you.  You can use scrappy fabrics as I have, or make it as you please.

I have made all 12 of the blocks now, but have only shown you 6 of them.  So, if you have been making them all, then we are half way there.  My plan is to put them into a quilt with the Rose Garden blocks from the last Block of the Month.  These blocks are still available if you would like to get them as well.

so this is how they all look so far.  I am going to set mine on point, but they look pretty like this as well.  The choice is yours of course!

Next week I will have the Tulip quilt block done, and the week after,  the Pom Pom Tree, and I will be all up to date!   I will let you know when they are ready.

As always, if you have a problem, or if something does not look right (thanks Lori xx) just let me know and I will fix it.

Wendy 

Rolling Stone update

 It is so hard to get a good shot of a large quilt on the floor!  I tried a few different angles, and these are what I ended up with.

I love making these Rolling Stone blocks.  They are so easy, and the colour combinations can be really interesting.  I am trying to get as much variety in the colour, and depth as I can.  do you like how you get a secondary pattern where the blocks join?  A good reason not to sash these blocks.

So far I have 12 blocks made, and it would be ok to leave it as it is, but I am thinking I will make another 8 blocks, then I can actually use it on a bed.

At this stage people start asking me how I am going to quilt it, and of course, I have no idea.  Probably cross hatch in the ditch on the sewing machine.  Or, I could use my new favourite method, which is the "big stitch" quilting with perle 8 cotton.  Depends on how far I put it down the "to do" list once the top is complete.  Time will tell.

My other New Year project, the hand pieced Rose Star, now has 2 blocks made. I have chosen the fabrics for the next one, but stopped there.  We had the hottest couple of days at New Year, I really felt like doing nothing.  Then we had a little cool change, and got out my hand quilting for a little while just because I could!  Normally I would not contemplate hand quilting this time of year, but I would quite like to get this one quilted by the end of February.

A little fussy cutting and the back view

Why do you suppose we always want to look at the back of quilts?  Is it to see what kind of fabric was used, or how the quilting looks? Or is it to see how it was made?   In this case to see how it is made. 

When you do hand piecing, you do not stitch into the seam allowance, and when it comes time to press there is no real obvious way to do it.  I look at how the fabric and pieces want to go, and kind of follow the natural lay.  You will see there are some over and unders on the back here. 

 You need to cut off all the little tails of the pieces, and manipulate the points a bit so that they lay flat.

In a section, like this centre, you can pretty much press them so that they spiral around, all going in one direction.  You will find there is far less bulk with hand piecing than machine piecing.

 I have chosen the fabrics for my next block and starting in the centre with this repeat print fabric.  this is perfect to "fussy cut".  This just means that you pick out parts of the print, that will give you a pretty effect when sewn together.  With these perspex templates you can place them over the print, on the right side, and see the print through them.  Then draw around the template with a pen or pencil.  Does not have to be wash out quality, as you will be cutting off the line.

 These are my favourite tools for hand piecing - 2B pencil, and Artline green pen.  The green you can see on almost all fabrics.  Don;t use it on anything too light, that is what the pencil is for.  I use these instead of the ceramic pencils as they tend to rub off as your handle them.  Great for hand quilting, as you want these lines to go away as you work, but not for hand piecing as you want to see the lines.

The Karen Kay Buckley medium size 6" scissors are the perfect size for cutting out these small pieces of fabric.  They have a micro-serrated edge, which helps to minimise the fraying

I mark the sewing lines 1/4" in from the edge, and draw lines with the green pen.  All ready to stitch.

I

I have already chosen the setting for this quilt.  I drew this up on EQ7.  The hexagons represent the blocks, and I will need 20 of them.  18 full sized blocks, and 4 half blocks for the sides.  Then some kind of border.  I expect that by the time I get to that part, I will just take one of my border stash fabrics and use that.

If you want to do some hand piecing, and you live in the Adelaide area, or visiting, come to Hettie's Patch on the 1st Saturday of the month (not January).  Sit around the table and do some sewing.  I will show you the tricks to make it easy and fast.  Ring the shop to book your seat.(08) 8346 0548.

A new project for the New year

For a good few years I have started something new around the Christmas/New Year time.  After all the festivities are over, it is nice to sit around and do a little hand piecing.  Last year it was the Mrs Vigors, which became "Out of the Closet", and this year it is this hand piece block.  It does not have a name yet, but I will work on that.

Once again, it is out of my cupboard of reproduction fabrics.  Each block needs 6 different fabrics, which includes a background. I am using my scraps of shirting as background.  I had to use 2 different ones in this block, but that is fine with me.

 I cut out all the shapes using this little plastic template.  You can buy these at your quilting shop.  This one I bought at Hettie's Patch, which is the shop where I teach hand work once a month.  You could also buy pre-cut paper pieces for this block, and make it using English Paper Piecing.  With the template, I draw around the shape, then cut out on the line, and then make the 1/4" seam.  You can also use your rotary cutter, but I think that is a bit fiddly for these small pieces.

With the fabrics, I just chose these light and dark ones to get some contrast, also I love to use stripes.

 Once I cut them out, I just played around to make sure they looked good together, and I had enough.

 Some close ups of the fabrics.  Some nice old ones, and some newer.

I was hoping the centre might form a nice picture.

 One of the reasons I love to do hand work is that I can do it in my arm chair while (sort of) watching TV.  I set the pieces out on my lap.  This is my thigh/knee in the photo.  Pretty, eh?

 I use one pin, and pin through the 2 layers, in the very corner of the drawn line. At the other end I insert my needle into the corner, 2 back stitches, and a slip knot and off I go.  When I get to the point where the pin is, I take out the pin and do another 2 back stitches and a knot.  Do not sew into the seam allowance.  Cut off the thread.

 It now looks like this.  You have to insert the 3rd piece into the centre.

 Right sides together, put a pin in the centre where the two seams meet.  Start off as before, and sew along the line. When you get to the pin, do a back stitch, take out the pin, pivot

 and start stitching down the other side of the seam.  Do a back stitch, and a knot and cut off the thread.

You now have one of the units complete.  You will have to make a heap of these.

 You need 6 of the centre piece, 6 of the one with the dark point, and 12 of the outside pieces with the background.  I do not press these pieces as I make them, just finger press.  you can press the whole block when it is finished.

 Join the centre pieces and the pointed pieces, wide sides together, then put a background piece on either side.

 Here we are, all 6 pieces completed.  Does not take long.  I had them all finished before I went to bed last night.

I completed the block earlier on today.  I plan to make about 15 of these blocks, in lots of different fabrics, and join them like you would a hexagon quilt - all butting in together.

Wonder how long it will take me?  If I do one a week, then they will be done in no time at all.  Wish me luck!

Edit - pressing!  Sandy asked me about how I press the blocks, open, flat, to the dark?  Mostly I let them fall where they want, and press them flat.  You need to manipulate the joins though.  I will take a few photos of the back, and add these later today.

Christmas cooking

My Christmas cooking this year got way behind schedule.  I usually start making my cake and puddings months in advance.  This week we had the hottest December days on record, so I suppose that must mean it is time to cook!

This years pudding is a steamed one instead of the traditional boiled puddings I made back HERE  2011
and HERE 2010
All these ingredients go in the pan together :-
500g mixed dried fruit, 120g raisins, 120g chopped dates, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup each of brown sugar and white sugar, 125g butter.
cook them together, until it all melts, and then boil for 8 minutes.  Take it off the heat.

Add one teaspoon of carb soda and it all froths up!  Let it cool.

Add 2 eggs, 1 cup plain flour, and 1 cup SR flour, 1 teaspoon mixed spice, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of rum or brandy.  Mix it all together.

pour it all into a greased pudding bowl.  I put it into this metal one, but later transfered to an earthen ware bowl, as this one was too big.

 Cover with cooking paper and foil, tie it down with string

and lower it into a pan of water.  The water needs to come about 1/2 way up the bowl.  Put the lit on the pan, and boil for 5 hours.  Top up the water if it starts to evaporate.

 Now the best part - once the 5 hours are up, take it out of the water, untie the strings, let in cool.  Does it not not look wonderful?  And, you should smell it!

Then turn out onto a plate.  Voila!  You can now eat it with custard or cream, or wrap in plastic and keep in the fridge..  You can reheat in the microwave for around 10-12 minutes.

We had a huge storm here last night.  We are all ok, but my daughter has no power, and huge tree has landed in her backyard and smashed the trampoline.  They are at least 12 hours without power.  I have no mobile phone coverage, but that is minor compared to many.